International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics

Citation

Wolf, K.H. (2005), "International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 61 No. 5, pp. 672-675. https://doi.org/10.1108/00220410510625877

Inasmuch as the Journal of Documentation deals with research and practice relating to recording, organization, management, retrieval, dissemination and use of information in systems and services of all kinds, it stands to reason that everyone involved in the diverse field of documentation and data technology will be directly or indirectly, explicitly or implicitly, involved in systems analysis and cybernetics. François' publication is therefore highly recommended. Any objections to the term “cybernetics”? – then read the “Introduction” and various pertaining sections in this encyclopaedia on the history and recent cognitive broadening of the concept!

The science and art of documentation is part of communication, the latter encompassing both oral and written exchanges of information. In the modern world documentation is chiefly concerned with written material of and from all disciplines (or professions, knowledge domains) without exceptions. (Can you really think of any human domain where there is no documentation?!) To put it differently: documentation is all‐social‐domain transcending, multi‐disciplinary in scope, and methodologically plus technologically almost all‐encompassing because we have made use of uncountable approaches to “handle” data. Any available useful theoretical or abstract approaches and mechanical/instrumental devices have been employed – many, of course, invented or discovered for the sole purpose of dealing with information! François' encyclopaedia is merely one of many cognitive tools.

To be certain, the field of documentation is characterized by many sub‐divisions or specialties – as many articles in its journal demonstrate. All knowledge domains have their own philosophy and methodology of collecting, describing, storing, manipulating (e.g. statistically), interpreting data, and using them to formulate concepts (or hypotheses, even theories) for explanation‐style purposes and for forecasting/predicting attempts. It is here that François's encyclopaedia finds its theoretical and practical applications. Let me explain.

Aside from documentation being all‐penetrating (i.e. socially universal/global) and all‐encompassing there are also certain philosophies or methodologies we have developed over the years which can be likewise described as “without exception everyone has to employ them!” This is the case of general system analysis (or research, theory), or in short “systems analysis”, as well as of cybernetics.

Inasmuch as numerous synonymous (better “near‐synonymous”) research philosophies exist, they ought to be mentioned here – many have been listed in François' encyclopaedia. Perhaps, one should consider system and cybernetic research as generic (or collective, umbrella) terms if one thinks of them as dealing with larger‐scale, whole‐system complexes, in contrast to the numerous other – yet conceptually related – sub‐philosophies tackling more preferentially chosen specific, smaller‐scale, part‐system problems?

Here are some of these near‐synonymous approaches: modeling may be the most familiar one, but then there are integration, holism/holistics, synergy/synergetics, flow‐chart and network analysis, general information theory, analogue and scenario construction, knowledge and wisdom management, prediction/forecasting theories, cause‐effect hypotheses, critical‐path and control‐system theories, managerial‐grid system analysis, Venn diagram studies, comparative/contrastive‐type investigations, consilience concept, morphological analysis, data‐mining‐style research, and even the more esoteric ideas of holographism, autopoisis and tectology. Although each is somewhat different, utilized in variable contexts, their philosophical aim is quite similar in many respects and fit neatly into François' systems/cybernetic encyclopaedic overview, as indeed he refers to many.

In so far as systems/cybernetic approaches are inherently (implicitly) part of the science and art of documentation, it may be helpful to list the major disciplines where these approaches have been utilized – as evidenced by innumerable publications (articles, books, many specialized journals, hand/reference books, encyclopedias, websites). Anyone researching these social settings will do well to consult François' encyclopedia – with references to many of the published literature. The following knowledge domains have for decades incorporated systems/cybernetic thinking:

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  all basic/fundamental/exact sciences: physics, astronomy/cosmology, mathematics, chemistry, biology;

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  derived/hybrid sciences: geology, archaeology/anthropology, oceanography, environmental sciences, meterology/climatology, geography/demography, agriculture, mining, health/medical sciences, forensic sciences;

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  technological disciplines, engineering, information technology, manufacturing, war strategies, architecture, urbane/rural planning;

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  economics, and finance‐, investment‐, business‐, … related disciplines;

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  social sciences: sociology, psychology, economics, education/pedagogy, politics, law/legislation;

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  behavioural sciences;

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  “humanistic” disciplines: history, linguistics, religion; and

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  all entertainment and fine arts professions.

Here are some preferentially selected concepts in François' encyclopaedia as employed by systems/cybernetic researchers and practitioners (the first number (S) indicates the number of sections dealing with a specific entry; (P) the page numbers; (T) is the number of tables (some rather excellent comparative/contrastive types) or lists; and (F) the figures/diagrams). As to degree of completeness here is an exemplar: attractor is dealt with in nine sections – namely chaotic attractor, dynamic, emergent, fractal, quasi, periodic, stability, thematic, toric attractor, and classification of attractors. Merely, a few additional examples are:

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  abstraction, action theory, algorithm (12S), analogy, analysis, approach (4S, 1T), artificial intelligence;

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  Boolean (network), boundary conditions (6S);

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  catastrophe (theory), causality (14S, 4P, 1T, 1F), change, chaos (14S, 3P), communication (16S, 3P), complex(ity) (31S, 8P), concept, connectedness (17S, 3P, 1T), correlation, creativity, cybernetics (9S, 4P, 1T), cycle (22S, 5P, 1T, 2F);

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  data, decision (11S, 5P), dynamics;

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  entropy (11S, 2P, 1T), environment (11S, 3P), equilibrium (18S, 3P), ethics, evolution;

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  feedback (10S, 2P 1T), field (theory) (10S, 2P, 1T), fractal, function(alism);

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  game theory, general system theory (20S, 7P, 3T), generalist (vs expert), goal (seeking), graph (theory) (7S, 3P, 2T, 2F), growth (22S, 4P, 2T), hierarchy (19S, 4P, 1T), holism;

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  ideal(ization), induction/deduction/abduction, information (47S, 11P, 3T), intelligence, invariance;

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  knowledge (30S, 7P, 14T!);

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  language (10S, 2P), learning (29S, 5P), level(ling), link(age);

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  machine (10S, 3P, 3T, 1F), management, meaning, method(ology), model(ization) (43S, 9P, 6T);

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  net(work) (26S, 3P);

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  observation (9S, 2P), openness, order (18S, 4P), organization (30S, 8P, 5T, 1F);

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  paradigm, pattern, perception, planning (6S, 2P), prediction, problem (solving) (14S, 4 P), process;

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  random(ness) (12S, 2P), reconstruct(ability), relations;

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  scale (13S, 2P), selection (principle), self‐ (e.g. organization, …) (26S, 5P, 3T), semantics, social (e.g. system, …), stability (30S, 4P), structure, synergy, system;

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  theory, time (e.g. frame, binding), transition (principle), types/typology;

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  values (organic, mechanistic, economic, etc), variable/variety; and

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  whole(ness), world (models).

The following reasons ought to be sufficient to acquire this superb encyclopaedia:

1. 1.

   anyone who thinks, decides, plans, describes, discusses, interprets, compares/contrasts, forecasts/predicts, extrapolates, writes, edits, and peer‐reviews must consider frequently this holistic‐type (i.e. systems analytical and cybernetic) cognitive tool;

2. 2.

   both experts and less‐experienced persons (including teachers and students) who are involved in some complexity in any discipline – especially when dealing with soft, open‐ended, many‐variable type problems – are addressed;

3. 3.

   it induces experts to widen their perspective to obtain a more global viewpoint;

4. 4.

   narrowly experienced specialists will have the opportunity to become more‐qualified generalists;

5. 5.

   it compels any person to become inter‐ and trans‐disciplinary, and multi‐professional;

6. 6.

   it is a quick guide to many important pre‐2004 publications;

7. 7.

   it puts some order into the myriad aspects of systems and cybernetics' concepts and terminologies;

8. 8.

   it enhances creativity, innovation, discovery/invention, even serendipity;

9. 9.

   it induces flexibility, ingenuity, acuity, lucidity, accuracy, logical strategy and conceptual sustainability – i.e. assists in finding alternatives and counter‐examples; and least, but not last; and

10. 10.

    it may lead to intellectual maturity and wisdom!

Many publications are available for those involved in the vast field of documentation; this likewise applies also if one narrows ones deliberation down to systems and cybernetics. The following reciprocally complementary encyclopaedia is highly recommended (an almost “must”?) to utilize in conjunction with other cognitive tools – including that by François:

Union of International Association, Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential. 3 vols. Brussels, Belgium: UIA, 1995, 3,161pp. (See our review in Journal of Documentation, 1998, vol. 54, no. 4, pp. 520‐23.)

François' encyclopedia is different from most others inasmuch as his version is more of a hybrid of encyclopedia – dictionary/glossary – reference – source book; it's even a bit of a thesaurus. In other words, there is a minimum of “encyclopedic‐style” systems/cybernetic data to be found if one seeks instructions about how, when, where, why to apply concepts under consideration. Also, only in combination with the just‐mentioned encyclopedia by the Union of International Association will one find extensive philosophies and instructions about a truly integrative (holistic) approach. The two encyclopedias are, in other words, supplementing each other. However, François' superb achievement in providing a cognitively useful tool for any researcher stands – because he has acted as a data gatherer, digester, evaluator, and distiller; even as a bit of a devil's advocate in suggesting that cybernetics will be a continually accepted science (and art) as new concepts are adopted and older ones discarded.

One suggestion to the publishers: Francois' English (especially of the “Introduction”) is rather awkward (stilted, quaint?) so that proper English‐language editing is required for future editions.

Communication, and thus documentation, is all‐pervasive on all levels of modern society. Various intellective tools have been utilized to achieve accuracy, reliability, and completeness, even repeatability – and of these tools the systems and cybernetic approach have proved to be indispensable; consequently, so is the highly recommended encyclopedia by François'! All municipal and education/training‐related libraries must have a copy! Among individuals, only experts may feel compelled to afford the price.